How to choose your first audiobook
The best first audiobook is rarely the most famous one. It's the one you'll still want to press play on during a boring commute. Here's how to choose.
Start shorter than you think
Anything under about eight hours is a comfortable first listen. A long fantasy epic is a bigger commitment, and many people drop their first audiobook because it's too long to carry. Our short audiobook guide lists titles under eight hours.
Pick a genre you already read
Listening is a different skill from reading. Starting with a genre you already enjoy means you're judging the format, not the story.
Listen to the sample
Narration changes everything. Most listings include a sample. If a narrator's voice irritates you in the first five minutes, it won't get better in ten hours.
Try a free route first if you can
Many public libraries lend audiobooks through apps, and you may have access to one. If there's a wait list, a subscription trial can be a way to listen sooner. We'd rather you pick whichever fits.
Change the speed
Most apps let you speed up or slow down playback. Many people find a slightly faster speed more natural once they're used to it.
Audiobooks.com's pricing page lists a 30-day free trial with one premium audiobook plus two bonus VIP titles, then $14.95 a month for one credit. You can cancel during the trial.
See the free trial on Audiobooks.com Sponsored link. Trial terms, prices and catalog availability can change, so check the current details on their site before you sign up. Titles on this page may not all be in their catalog.Keep exploring
- Best short audiobooks: great listens under 8 hours
- Audiobook or print: how to decide
- Audiobook subscriptions compared: Audiobooks.com, Audible, Libro.fm and more
- How audiobook subscription credits work
- Fourth Wing audiobook: length, who it's for, and what to listen to next
- Iron Flame audiobook: length and what to know before you start